Same As It Ever Was (Maybe)

Some of what I was writing during the first few games of this season sounded vaguely familiar, so I went back to read blog posts from this time last year. It took me about an hour - and I read fast - so that tells me that I should probably rein in my longwindedness.

As for the Sox: at this time last year, Manny was just hitting his stride in the box, after a month or so of "What's wrong with Ramirez?"-type chat on talk radio. Ortiz was hitting into the shift - although he had more homeruns - and the murmurs were starting that he was selfish and obstinate for refusing to bunt or hit to the opposite field. (Shamefacedly raising my hand.) Tim Wakefield was getting no run support and pitching in general was a trick or treat proposition with the exception of Jonathan Papelbon.

I found several posts where I gloated over the Sox defeating the Yankees. True, it was great to watch them sweep this past weekend but the hallmark of last year's team was its inconsistency and that, unfortunately, has not changed significantly. I don't think I need to remind citizens of Planet Red Sox how last season ended. The bus didn't just lose its wheels, the engine quit.

Like last year, the Yankees have been decimated by injuries early, particularly in their pitching staff. Yet, the Sox needed to come from behind in all 3 games this year. They followed that by showing up against the Blue Jays flatter than the chest of a Romanian female gymnast and head into Baltimore tonight riding a two-game losing streak.

There's a big difference between good teams & great teams. Good teams win more than they lose, period. Great teams find a way to consistent performance, beat the teams they "should", and win more than they lose against comparable opponents. Even in the giddy, pre-All Star Break days of last season, the team was very up and down and I have to admit, the lop-sided interleague record fooled me into believing that the Sox would be playing until the first snowfall. Of course, winter didn't really make an appearance here until late January, so I was wrong about that, too.

This is not a doom-and-gloom post however. Probably more like a cautionary tale that I will blithely ignore if the Red Sox manage to hold onto first place into June or July. (Sort of like my previous admonition against wordiness... ahem.)

Here's what I like so far: 1) Sox pitching managed to hold the Yankees to under their runs per game average; 2) The pitching staff is already stronger than last year with the addition of Matsuzaka, Okajima, and Donnelly; 3) The bottom third of the order is starting to produce; 4) Julio Lugo has been a very pleasant surprise in the field (as well as Dustin Pedroia); 5) I think we're starting to see the "real" Coco Crisp and 6) this team is starting to gel in that goofy way it did in 2004. Watch the bench shots during the games & you'll see what I mean.

The Sox go into Baltimore tonight and face the Orioles, who are 1.5 games back in second place. Curt Schilling takes the mound against Daniel Cabrera. After a two-game set, the team heads to Babylon for Armageddon, Part 2.